Valrico Area Safety Report: March 16-21, 2026

Your weekly safety roundup covering the Valrico, Brandon, and Bloomingdale area. Information sourced from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO), Hillsborough County government, and local news outlets.

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Notable Incidents

$388K Multi-State Luxury Car Theft Ring Dismantled — Riverview Chop Shop HCSO detectives shut down a chop shop in Riverview and arrested three suspects connected to a multi-state vehicle theft operation worth an estimated $388,000.

Arrested:

• Yoan Gonzalez Solorzano, 25
• Javier Penate Berbe, 24
• Christien Ravi Bisnath, 31

Between December 2025 and March 2026, the suspects targeted high-end vehicles from dealerships, auctions, and recent buyers across Florida and other states. Stolen vehicles — including GMC Yukons, Cadillac Escalades, and a Dodge Charger — were taken to the Riverview chop shop where they were sold, dismantled for parts, or altered through fraudulent VIN swaps for resale.

One notable case: surveillance footage from Christmas Day 2025 showed a silver RAM scouting a parking lot on Causeway Boulevard in Tampa before a 2021 white GMC Yukon Denali (valued at $68,000) was stolen. The SUV was later found in Riverview with its wheels already swapped. All three suspects face multiple felony charges including Grand Theft and Operating a Chop Shop.

Vehicle Theft Prevention Tips:

• Always lock your vehicle, even in your driveway
• Park in well-lit areas
• Never leave keys in or near your vehicle
• Consider a steering wheel lock or GPS tracking device for high-value vehicles
• Report suspicious activity immediately

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Traffic Updates

Boyette Road — 24/7 Construction During Spring Break The South Hillsborough Pipeline contractor ran around-the-clock operations on Boyette Road from Monday, March 16 through Saturday, March 21. The accelerated schedule took advantage of reduced traffic during Hillsborough County's spring break week.

• Inside eastbound and westbound lanes closed between Pure Pebble Drive and Wickerwood Drive
• One lane in each direction during active work
• Expect the road to return to standard daytime work hours the week of March 23

South Kings Avenue — Still Closed The S. Kings Avenue closure between Center Avenue and Bloomingdale Avenue continues with no updated reopening date announced. Continue using John Moore Road or Providence Road as north-south alternates.

South Hillsborough Pipeline — Open-Cut Trenching Begins Tampa Bay Water announced that open-cut construction — digging trenches to install the 26.5-mile pipeline — is now underway as of March 2026. Future tunneling operations are planned under Falkenburg Road, SR 60, the Alafia River, Boyette Road, and Balm Boyette Road. Expect more traffic disruptions in coming months across eastern Hillsborough County.

For the latest detours and alerts, visit SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com/detours-alerts.

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Public Safety Advisories

Emergency Burn Ban — Week 10 Hillsborough County extended the emergency burn ban for the 10th consecutive week on March 19. No signs of conditions improving. Register for HCFL Alert at HCFL.gov/HCFLAlert for text or email updates on the burn ban and other emergency notifications.

Stage 3 Water Restrictions Continue Once-a-week lawn watering only under Tampa Bay Water's Stage 3 Extreme Regional Supply Shortage. Significant rainfall and river flow deficits persist, and reservoir levels are projected to remain low into spring. No timeline has been given for easing restrictions.

Spring Break Reminder Schools return Tuesday, March 24 (Monday, March 23 is a non-student day). Be alert for school buses and increased morning traffic starting midweek.

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Important Numbers

• Emergency: 911
• HCSO Non-Emergency: (813) 247-8200
• HCSO Online Reporting: teamhcso.com
• Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay: 1-800-873-8477 (anonymous tips)
• South Hillsborough Pipeline Updates: SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com
• HCFL Alert: HCFL.gov/HCFLAlert

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See Something, Say Something

If you witness suspicious activity in the Valrico, Bloomingdale, or Brandon area, contact HCSO at (813) 247-8200 for non-emergencies or call 911 for emergencies. You can also submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-8477.